Inaugural Powermoves.NOLA Fellows To Be Introduced At November 10 Event
Local and transplant entrepreneurs of color receive $25-$50k investments, strategic guidance and institutional support
PowerMoves.NOLA, a national initiative focused on providing access to capital, connections and guidance to increase the number of America’s venture-backed, minority entrepreneurs will introduce its inaugural class of PowerMoves.NOLA Fellows, sponsored by Chevron.
PowerMoves.NOLA will host an open house for the Fellows on Monday, November 10, 2014, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the new PowerMoves.NOLA headquarters, 1525 Religious Street in New Orleans.
The PowerMoves.NOLA Fellowship helps high-growth, minority-led startups succeed by individually connecting them to executive, capital and technical assistance through a national network of advisors, mentors, experts and investors over a twelve-month period. During their fellowship year, the Fellows work with the PowerMoves.NOLA team to refine their business models, market test their products and services and secure additional funding.
“After a comprehensive recruitment and review process, we are incredibly excited to announce our inaugural class of PowerMoves.NOLA Fellows, made possible by Chevron’s generous sponsorship,” said PowerMoves.NOLA President Earl Robinson. “These innovative startups will be a powerful force to draw, keep, and grow minority intellectual capital in the region. I am optimistic the strategic guidance, operational support and investment monies given to these companies will pale in comparison to the economic impact they will make on the Greater New Orleans area.”
Chevron’s sponsorship of the PowerMoves.NOLA Fellowship program is part of the energy company’s efforts to support community partners making investments in programs that promote self-sufficiency, job growth and economic development. Chevron’s Gulf of Mexico business unit is based in Covington, LA.
“Chevron believes that economic opportunity should be extended to as many people as possible, and that companies should be reflective of the diverse communities they serve," said Chevron Gulf of Mexico General Manager of Public Affairs Sakari Morrison. "Chevron is pleased to be the presenting sponsor of PowerMoves.NOLA as it seeks to build a more diverse, powerful entrepreneur community by bringing together talented minority entrepreneurs and providing them with access to capital, thought leaders and mentors to help them succeed."
Members of the 2014 Class of PowerMovesNOLA Fellows sponsored by Chevron are:
Lorenzo Castillo, Founder - E2 uses the power of songs to maximize student learning-time. E2’s subscription-based “songs-as-a service” provides teachers with engaging audio and video content that increases classroom efficiency by decreasing wasted time.
Crystal McDonald, President & CEO - GoToInterview is a web-based employment service that streamlines the hiring process by quickly connecting employers with a pool of qualified applicants via 2-3 minute pre-recorded video interviews. The platform provides employers with the ability to quickly screen candidates on demand to evaluate performance, fit and personality to make sound hiring decisions in minutes.
Derrius Quarles and Ras Asan, Co-Founders - Million Dollar Scholar is a scalable web platform that can deliver educational content and services to student users remotely and on-demand. Million Dollar Scholar aims to become the first online course focusing on scholarship success and awareness tailored to high school and college students.
Damon Burns, Founder/CEO - Munivestor is a web-based financial data platform for the municipal bond industry. Munivestor collects and organizes municipal bond data to give investors access to thousands of municipalities on one platform.
Glenda English, Founder - MySelfie Live is a proprietary event-based software application that will allow submitters to upload approved selfies in large public areas. The selfies are displayed using designated Twitter hashtags and can be tweeted with sponsor-supported messages for maximum viral impressions.
Luke Cooper, Founder - PeachMe is warranty analytics for the small things that matter big. The app provides true and relevant information on coverage options to fuel educated purchase decisions. PeachMe offers peace of mind to consumers with the ability to compare pricing and warranty plans for electronics purchases.
As Fellows, each company must have a C-level executive and at least 25% of their full time employees located in New Orleans. Each fellow receives:
- $25,000 - $50,000 in investment capital and assistance in closing an angel round;
- Technical assistance (marketing, legal, business strategy, etc.);
- Roster of available high impact advisory board members and mentors; and
- Free office space.
“PowerMoves.NOLA has been a lightning bolt for Munivestor’s growth potential,” said Damon Burns, founder of Munivestor. “The fellowship sponsored has provided me with an incredibly supportive environment. The networking opportunities have been as valuable as the financial investment. This program has positioned all of us to obtain the resources we need to make our entrepreneurial endeavors a success.”